Unconditional (Masters and Mercenaries #5.5)(51)

Ashley grumbled a little as she rolled out of bed. Too early. She needed afternoon classes. Her boyfriend liked to keep her up late with all that crazy sex stuff.

God, she had to stop calling it that.

She yawned and glanced at the clock. She had about an hour before she really needed to be in the car headed to daycare.

She never slept this late. She turned to the baby monitor. She never slept this late because Emily never slept through the damn night. A little panic hit her.

It wasn’t surprising Keith was gone. He often left before the sun was up. Oh, he said it was because he needed to get to work, but it was really because he was a coward, completely afraid of a nineteen pound toddler.

Why had he turned off the monitor? She checked the plug. Sure enough it had been taken out of the socket. What had happened?

She plugged it back in. Surely he wouldn’t have unplugged the monitor. He was typically careful about it.

She marched down the hall. How much had Emily cried before finally falling back asleep? Had she been hungry? Wet?

Gone? Her crib was empty. Empty. Had Jill come over? The alarm hadn’t beeped.

Oh, god, where was her baby? She ran into the living room to get her phone, panic starting to take over. Had the Reids taken her baby? What the hell would she…

Emily was asleep, cuddled on Keith’s chest. He was in the recliner, his feet up, his face relaxed. Emily wasn’t in the PJs she’d put her in. They were lying on the floor along with a ton of baby stuff. It looked like Keith had tried everything. There was a pile of diapers, wipes, and PJs that had…ewww. Someone had gotten sick in the night.

And Keith had taken care of her.

She stood there looking at them, tears in her eyes. He looked tired and she was pretty sure there was a little vomit on his shirt. His eyes opened and he yawned.

“Hey,” he said quietly. He didn’t move an inch and kept his voice at that “don’t wake the sleeping monster” level she often used herself.

Yep, he definitely had baby vomit on his shirt. And maybe in his hair.

God, he’d never looked sexier to her.

How did she broach the subject? Because he looked really comfy with a baby he hadn’t even been able to look at the day before. “You look like you had a rough night.”

“It was okay. Something upset her stomach. I didn’t wake you up because she didn’t have a fever. My mom said she didn’t have to go to the ER if she didn’t have a fever and she didn’t seem dehydrated. Should I have taken her?”

He’d called his mom? He hadn’t talked to his mom in years. “No, she’s right. Sometimes babies just throw up. She seems to be sleeping fine now. The best remedy can be just holding her and comforting her.”

“She plays in her own vomit, Ashley. I gave her three baths.”

Ashley laughed long and hard because he sounded so horrified. Welcome to parenthood, Keith Langston.

Emily stirred and Ashley picked her up. Keith had done his time.

He stared at her for a moment while she settled her very well taken care of daughter on her shoulder.

“You did a great job, Master.” It was more than she thought she could hope for. “I didn’t think I could love you more, but I do.”

“Then marry me.”

He was tired and dirty and so beautiful in that moment that she was sure no woman on the planet had ever gotten a better offer. “All right.”

He suddenly looked way more awake. He nearly jumped out of the chair and stood with her. “Seriously? You’re saying yes?”

All she’d ever needed to know was that he could accept Emily. “Yes.”

He reached around, drawing her close, the baby between them. He made a little circle of their bodies. “I was being stubborn. I was afraid. You can forgive me?”

Oh, there was nothing to forgive. “You just needed a little time.”

“I needed you.” He kissed the top of Emily’s head. “And her. I want to adopt her. I can give her my name.”

He could give her a father, one who would love her and never leave her because that was who he was. “Yes. Yes. Yes. I know you like to hear that word, Master.”

“I think I like husband more.” He held her close, nestling the three of them together.

She kissed him. “Then yes, my almost husband. But, babe, you’re going to have to take a bath first.”

He grinned, looking younger than she’d ever seen him. “Then put her down to sleep. God knows she needs it. And I need you. Meet me in the shower. Just because we’re getting married doesn’t mean our contract is altered. You’re still mine.”

He strode away, his big body stretching.

Ashley hugged her baby close as she walked to her crib and settled her in. She watched her sleep but only for a moment.

She kissed her forehead and ran back to her room. The shower was already running.

She set the monitor on the sink, ditched her clothes and joined her Master, her husband, her love.





Author’s Note

I’m often asked by generous readers how they can help get the word out about a book they enjoyed. There are so many ways to help an author you like. Leave a review. If your e-reader allows you to lend a book to a friend, please share it. Go to Goodreads and connect with others. Recommend the books you love because stories are meant to be shared. Thank you so much for reading this book and for supporting all the authors you love!